Hero Olić shares Bayern acclaim

Asked whether he was in the best form of his life, FC Bayern München striker Ivica Olić replied "it looks like it" following the hat-trick at Olympique Lyonnais that sent Louis van Gaal's side to the UEFA Champions League final.

I think my team are also in their best form; an attacker just has to play his part and score goals

Ivica Olić

”

“

He is a hard worker; you can see every time he plays how hard he works for the team

Philipp Lahm

”

A beaten UEFA Europa League semi-finalist with Hamburger SV last season, the 30-year-old hogged the limelight on Tuesday with goals in the 26th, 67th and 78th minutes as Bayern built on a 1-0 first-leg lead to book a meeting with either FC Barcelona or FC Internazionale Milano in the 22 May decider at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

Now with seven UEFA Champions League goals to add to the ten he has registered in the Bundesliga, the Croatian international did his best to remain cool after being asked about his awesome form. Asked whether he was in the form of his life, he replied: "Well, it looks like it, but I think my team are also in their best form; an attacker just has to play his part and score goals."

Team-mate Philipp Lahm, however, would not allow the marksman to be so generous in sharing the credit, the Germany defender saluting Olić's industry. "He is a hard worker; you can see every time he plays how hard he works for the team," said the 26-year-old. "Then he is rewarded with three goals in the Champions League semi-final."

The turn and shot that gave Olić his first of the night was, for the player at least, the pick of his goals. "The first goal was psychologically the most important one," he said. "After that, they had to score three to qualify, and that isn't easy. Then I scored the second and third goals. I am very happy about it, to have scored three goals in a semi-final – it doesn't get any better."

However, while the finishing touches were all his own, Olić was helped by an inspired team performance. "It was a dream, but the whole team played great football," he said. "We were very compact, and our defence and midfield performed very well. With such performances we created chances from the back, out of defence and midfield, and then it's easy for me in attack."

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